Korean newspaper shock: 'Be wary of Vietnam's champion at the Asian Finals'

Before the direct confrontation in Group C of the AFC U17 Asian Cup, Korean media expressed special admiration for the unprecedented record of Southeast Asia's new king - Vietnam U17.

Vietnam's youth football just concluded an incredible journey in Indonesia with the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship title, their 4th historic win. This achievement not only caused a sensation in the region but also deeply alarmed their upcoming direct opponent at the Asian Finals, South Korea, regarding the strength of Coach Cristiano Roland's team.

The reputable newspaper Jungang News of South Korea dedicated a prominent space to analyze Vietnam U17's 16-match unbeaten streak. The paper wrote: “The Vietnam U17 team is rewriting Southeast Asian football history. With a disciplined and organized style of play, they surpassed the records of both Thailand and Australia to become the most successful team in the tournament's history.”.

Particularly, Korean professional circles highly praised Vietnam's resilience after their comeback victory defeating Australia 2-1 in the semifinals. The newspaper emphasized a highly cautionary message for their own team:

“South Korea must be extremely vigilant against Vietnam in the upcoming Group C. Don't look at the past; look at their 20 goals scored and only 1 conceded in the recent tournament. This is a team with steely spirit and astonishing tactical flexibility.”.

Under the shaping hands of strategist Cristiano Roland, Vietnam U17 has transformed into a winning machine. The 16-match unbeaten streak across all official competitions is an unprecedented milestone, reflecting absolute stability from defense to attack. Crushing Malaysia 3-0 in the final was merely the ultimate affirmation of their new "king" status in the region.

Coach Roland shared with humility but firmness: “This championship is only a stepping stone. Our biggest goal is the AFC Asian Cup Finals in Saudi Arabia.”. Key players like Nguyen Van Duong also expressed a determination to "die on the pitch" to realize the World Cup dream.

According to the schedule, on April 26th, the champions will return home to be welcomed by fans at Noi Bai Airport before departing to Saudi Arabia in May. In Group C of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026, Vietnam will successively face Yemen (May 7th), South Korea (May 10th), and UAE (May 14th).

With the status of a team recently praised by both AFC and Korean media, Coach Roland's squad is brimming with confidence to secure one of the two tickets to advance to the quarter-finals and compete for a World Cup spot. The verdict is clear: Vietnam U17 is no longer a "road paver" but is ready to challenge the continental giants.